Effects of cetirizine on substance P release in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.

Author(s): Shirasaki H, Watanabe K, Kanaizumi E, Sato J, Konno N, Narita S, Himi T

Affiliation(s): Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Publication date & source: 2004-12, Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol., 113(12):941-5.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

To evaluate the effect of cetirizine hydrochloride on substance P release in allergic rhinitis, we performed a single-blind placebo-controlled study of 14 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (7 treated with cetirizine and 7 with placebo). After an initial nasal allergen challenge with lavages, the subjects received treatment with placebo or cetirizine hydrochloride (10 mg by mouth daily) for 1 week, followed by the second nasal allergen challenge with lavages. The levels of albumin, histamine, and substance P in nasal lavages before and after allergen challenge were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pretreatment of subjects with cetirizine reduced the level of substance P induced by antigen challenge, but did not significantly reduce levels of histamine. These results suggest that cetirizine may reduce nasal neurogenic inflammation by modulating the release of substance P in allergic rhinitis.